Awareness session held for “Zero Mortality of Soaring Birds on a Wind Farm in Jordan”

Awareness session held for “Zero Mortality of Soaring Birds on a Wind Farm in Jordan”

Posted on Tue, 26/06/2018

The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), hosted a lecture titled “Toward Zero Mortality of Soaring Birds on a Wind Farm in Jordan”. Mr. Tareq Qaneer, Head of Birds Projects Management Unit at RSCN, delivered the lecture on Monday, June 25, at Wild Jordan Center.

This awareness session took place as part of the Safe Flyways – reducing energy infrastructure related bird mortality in the Mediterranean” project funded by MAVA Foundation and implemented by BirdLife International and other strategic partners. In this project, Jordan was selected as a priority country, and RSCN is currently responsible for implementing this project in Jordan.

In his lecture, Qaneer discussed the emerging wind energy projects in Jordan and its spillover effects on migratory soaring birds. “With over 1.5 million species of soaring birds passing through the Rift Valley/ Red Sea flyway each year, there is a real urgency to prevent avian mortality from collision with windfarms, which has been identified as a potentially significant threat to some soaring bird species in the area.” Says Qaneer.

“Most of the wind energy projects in Jordan are established in Tafilah, where the beating heart of Jordan “Dana Biosphere Reserve” is located. That’s why international and local environmentalists need to interfere very quickly.” He added. Dana, which has been hailed as the most biodiverse area in the world is home to many unique and rare species like the brown eagle.

Currently, RSCN, and other organisations are actively working together to mitigate the threat by conducting a detailed research on wind energy sites, and by influencing responsible planning, developing, and generating of energy among power companies and stakeholders.

Through its partnership with BirdLife International and other experts, RSCN has also developed national guidelines that will encourage the government and private investors to invest in wind power projects through an environment-friendly framework that considers all biodiversity conservation elements.

“These guidelines are considered the first of its kind in the region in that it seeks to strike a balance between enhancing sustainable wind energy projects and conserving biodiversity and protecting the environment,” says Qaneer.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is also contributing to the efforts of environmentalists by only financing renewable energy investments that adhere to the guidelines and take mitigation measures to save birds.

The notions of a green energy project hinge on the idea that it has a positive environmental impact. So far, Jordan is meeting its growing energy needs and becoming a model for renewable energy investments by adopting best practices and continuously assessing sites and updating data necessary for monitoring the avian life in Jordan. Yet, local environmentalist are not satisfied and they are looking for ideal solutions to ensure the preservation of birds and their habitats.

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